AALL Course Descriptions, Spring, 2013
Registration required
Continuing with Alexander McCall-Smith Film Series. Richard Lewin. Wednesdays, 2 pm-4 pm. April 24, May 1, and May 8. Albion District Library, Naomi Lane
Room.
Alexander McCall-Smith will have just visited Albion (April 18) as the Joseph Calvaruso Lecturer. In preparation for his coming we have watched four of the BBC/
HBO movies from his book series: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. As there are
three remaining movies in that series, we will be watching them during this class
time. Even if you have not read his books, nor been a part of the viewing of the first
four, you are welcome to join the fun as we continue with The No. 1 Ladies
Detective Agency, filmed in Botswana, Africa. The series is thoroughly entertaining
and introduces the viewer to some of the most lovable and interesting people it is
possible to imagine. There will be time for conversation following each showing.
This film series is open to the public at no charge.
Camaroes/Kamerun/Cameroun/Cameroon: Africa in Miniature. Emmanuel Yewah, Ph.D.,
Professor, Modern Languages and Culture Department, Albion College. Wednesdays, 10:0012:00, May 15, 22, 29, June 5. Albion College, Vulgamore Hall Room 123.
Camaroes/Kamerun/Cameroun/Cameroon, affectionately called “Africa in Miniature” or “Le
Triangle” in
French, is not well known outside of Africa, perhaps because it does not have political or
religious upheavals or stories sensational enough to grab the attention of Western media. This
almost non-existent existence of Cameroon on the world stage is all the more surprising given its
strategic geographical location at the crossroads between East and West, North and Southern
Africa. This course, interdisciplinary in its approach, seeks to introduce this community of
learners to an incredibly diverse country through an in-depth study of its geography, history,
cultures, education, and environment.
The first week will focus on understanding its geography including climate, physical features,
demography, vegetation, as well as its pre-colonial, colonial, and postcolonial history. The
second week will be devoted to education, especially looking at the introduction of Western
educational systems, how they were shaped by colonial and missionary policies and their
legacies today. The third week will highlight environmental and sustainability issues. We will
conclude the fourth week with a discussion of elements of Cameroon’s cultural heritage and
cultural tourism with examples from the art, music, literature as well as a sampling of some of
the rich and varied dishes of Cameroon.
continued
The French Revolution in Words, Imagery, and Memory. Susan Conner, PhD., Provost and
Professor of History, Albion College. Tuesdays, 10:00-12:00, April 30, May 7, 14, 21. Albion
College Library, Mudd 210. Limit: 30.
In passing the 220th anniversary of the inauguration of the First French Republic (1792), the
French Revolution reminds us of the importance of liberty, equality, and resistance to
oppression. While the words emerged from the Enlightenment and had classical origins,
revolutionaries did not always agree on their meaning. In fact, the French Revolution was not a
single event; it was a series of revolutions each kicking at the heels of its predecessor. In 1789,
when the Revolution began, only a handful of revolutionaries would have prophesied that Louis
XVI would die, the guillotine would be adopted, wars would shake Europe, or that the Terror
would characterize what should have been the most democratic phase of the Revolution.
This course will lay out the causes of the French Revolution and its timeline (1789-1799), along
with images found in the contemporary popular press--from Marie Antoinette and her bevy of
alleged harlots, to Louis XVI wearing a “red cap of liberty,” to the Jacobins devouring the
Revolution, to a host of songs and allegorical symbols inaugurating a vibrant new age for all of
mankind.
This course will meet in four sessions: (1) An introduction to the French Revolution including its
causes, timeline, and classical interpretation. Experience the fall of the Bastille, peasant
uprisings, and when women, for all intents and purposes, took Louis XVI captive ; (2) The
French Revolution and human rights (including women, Blacks, and religious minorities), along
with the Constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the still-born Constitution of 1793. Write the
words citoyen and citoyenne as the Revolutionaries formed them; (3) Symbols, songs, the trial of
Louis XVI and the Terror. Live through the trial of Louis XVI, as women calmly ate their oranges while deputies cast their votes; (4) The French Revolution in memory (19th and 20th
century writers and the Bicentennial of 1989). Learn how Mitterand avoided the guillotine as the
symbol of the Revolution in 1989.
There are two short texts: Jeremy Popkin, A Short History of the French Revolution, 5th edition
(Prentiss Hall, 2010), and Lynn Hunt, The French Revolution and Human Rights: A Brief
Documentary, (St. Martins, 1996). Popkin should be read prior to the first class; selections from
Hunt, prior to the second class. A selected list of novels, films, and texts will also be provided
should participants want to delve further into the period.
continued
Contemporary Theories in Human and Cybernetic Intelligence. David Kammer, Richard Mortensen, and
Abby
Mortensen. Thursdays, 10:00-12:00, May 16, 23, 30, June 6. Albion College Science Complex, Norris 102.
Sessions 1 and 2—David Kammer, PhD., Professor Emeritus of Physics, Albion College. Can Machines
Think? A Gentle Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
We will first consider the meanings of intelligence and consciousness and whether machines might have these
capabilities.
During the second session we will consider the future after the possible “singularity” when computer power
will surpass that of the human brain. There will be lots of demonstrations and class participation.
Sessions 3 and 4—Richard Mortensen, PhD., Professor Emeritus of Biology, Albion College, and Abby
Mortensen, MS. How Do Living Things Think?
We will focus on the biological/physiological basis of intelligence, as defined in Sessions 1 and 2, in living
things.
Session 3 will briefly review the role of genetics in the formation of molecules important in nervous system
transmission and provide an introduction into how the brain functions to make decisions.
In session 4, what is known about learning and memory in both human and some non-human systems will be
described. Why we forget, memory loss and some of its causes, will also be explored.
Shakespeare on Stage. Royal Ward, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus of Theater and Dance, Albion College. Mondays, 10—12, May 13, 20, June 3, and 10. Albion College Bobbitt Auditorium.
We’ll look at two of Shakespeare’s comedies — A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night — from
the
standpoint of traditional and contemporary performance. These two plays are among the most popular and
frequently performed of all of Shakespeare’s plays. In class we will talk about different approaches to staging
the plays and look at several different specific productions. Participants will be encouraged to attend A
Midsummer Night’s Dream presented by the Marshall Civic Players, May 10-12 and 17-20, and Twelfth Night at the Michigan
Shakespeare Festival later in July and August. Members of the cast and production team from Midsummer
(which I am directing) will visit class, as will Jan Blixt (schedule permitting), Artistic Director of the
Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
Participants may read the plays in any edition. The royal Shakespeare Company editions (edited by Jonathan
Bate and Eric Rasmussen and published by Macmillan) are recommended. They are inexpensive, contain
helpful introductions and notes, explore different approaches to staging, and take detailed looks at specific
productions.
continued
Jazz Appreciation IV. Robert Wall, Retired teacher/administrator, Albion Public Schools.
Tuesdays, 2:00 4:00, May 14, 21, 28, and June 4. Albion College Library, Mudd 210. Class size
limit: 30
The goal of the class is to develop an understanding and appreciation of jazz and how it is
performed. Newcomers are welcome since attendance in Jazz Appreciation of I-III is not a
prerequisite. A common vocabulary will be taught and used as a basis for all discussions in the
class. DVDs, CDs and internet sources will be used to play examples of the music with emphasis
on music between 1940 and 1970. In general, musical samples will be presented in chronological
order using multiple examples of the same piece to illustrate differences in style, rhythm,
harmony, etc. A final aspect of the class will involve studying the craft of orchestration or how
arrangers utilize various combinations of instruments to create unique sounds.
A suggestion was made at the March AALL Board Meeting that members could bring
their own coffee mugs to classes to help reduce landfill issues. The impact of this decision may seem to be of small significance, but it is one way that we can reduce our
environmental "FOOTPRINT". AALL will continue to provide cups for those who don't
bring their own.